Detachable shoe cleat



Nov. 4, 1947. l M. A. ROBINSON 2,430,412 7 DETACHABLE SHOE CLEAT Filed Nov. 8, 1946 JielvimA fiobimsom x mm. W

Patented Nov. 4, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DETACHABLE SHOE CLEAT Melvin A. Robinson, Washington, D. 0.

Application November 8, 1946, Serial No. 708,726

The present invention is a ground gripping de-' vice or,c1eatdesigned as a temporary attachment to the soles of th wearers shoes, with the purpose of affording to the wearer a sure footing when engaged in such athletics as golf and hiking or the like.

One advantage of this device, readily attachable to, and equally readily detachable from any shoe, is that it may be employed without marring the appearance or damaging the construction or materials of the shoe.

A further advantage is that the adjustability of this device is such that a proper fit may be obtained for a large range of sizes of adult shoes.

One object of the present invention is to provide a shoe cleat which is of simple and rugged construction, and consists of a minimum of parts or sheet metal stampings, thereby facilitating its manufacture. To attain these ends the present shoe cleat consists essentially of two pivoted elements, in which one element is a sole plate somewhat in the shape of a half sole. In use the sole plate is lodged firmly against the forward half of the sole of the shoe and together with the other element pivoted thereon, both elements carrying ground gripping calks, the cleat is positively and detachably mounted on the sole of the shoe.

The edge zone of the sole plate and the elongated strip which forms the second cooperating element intersect, with th intersection forming the point of pivotal engagement between the plate and elongated strip. Said pivot point is approximately two-fifths the length of the elongated strip from the end intended to grip the inner edge of the sole, and located at approximately the same relative position on the edge zone of the plate.

Located in a forward part of the plate is an arcuate slot, defined by having its center at the point of pivotal engagement between the two elements, and upon which the elongated strip is slidably guided, and through which a positive clamping mechanism, (1 e s c rib e 6. below, is mounted.

The pivotal arrangement of the parts described above affords to the cleat a wide degree of transverse expansibility, enabling it to be adjusted to fit various sizes shoes, while the positive clamping mechanism enables the cleat to be held in firm and secure engagement with th sole of the shoe once adjusted thereupon.

Extending from the plate section of the cleat are two short arms whose ends are turned up and back to form clips for securely engaging the periphery of a sole. One of these arms extends 7 Claims. (Cl. 367.7)

from a forward inside portion of the plate enabling its clip to grip the inside toe portion of the sole, while the other arm extends from the very rear outsid portion of the cleat so that its clip will grip th outside forward section of the soles arch. Likewise, each end of the elongated strip is formed into similar clips, the forward clip gripping the outside portion of the soles toe and the rearward clip gripping the inside forward section of the soles arch.

A fuller and more detailed description of this device is given below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom face View of a shoe with the cleat or anti-slipping device attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a side View of a shoe with the cleat attached thereto.

Figure 3 is a cross section view of the calk, nut, and lock washer arrangement taken along the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross section view of adepending call: or spike fixedly attached to and riveted on one of the elements.

Figure 5 is a bottom face View of the nut used in the clamping arrangement.

The invention herein described consists of a plate 20, substantially in the shape of a half sole and, when applied in its proper position to the sole of a shoe, substantially covers the forward part of the sole. Transversely extending from plate 2!! ar two short arms and 6| whose ends are formed into clips as shown at [8, arm 60 being longer than arm Bl. Elongated strip It! is pivotally attached to plate 29 at H and extends across said plate, being also slidably mounted on arcuate slot 40 of plate 20, substantially as shown in Figure 1. Each end of strip I0 is formed into a clip as shown at l8. Thus when the cleat is applied to a shoe, the periphery of the sole is securely gripped by four clips it, one gripping the outside toe portion, another gripping. the inside toe portion, a third gripping the forward outside portion of the arch, and a fourth gripping the forward inside portion of the arch of the sole. In addition, the clips are formed on a bias to the strip Ill and the extensions 60 and 61, as shown at positions l9,

so that they might more nearly conform to the 50 contour of the periphery of the sole than were they formed perpendicularly to said elements. Arms 6?) and GI are preferably out of alignment. Thus arm 60 extends from the rear portion of the sole plate 20 and its clip I8 is designed to engage the mid-portion of the outer edge of the sole. The

arm 6| extends from the toe portion of the sole plate and its clip engages the inside toe edge of the sole.

Depending from plate 29 and strip I is a plurality of substantially pointed calks or spikes I2, which are shaped as shown in Figure 4 and include a base plate, a pointed ground gripping spike portion extending from one side of the base plate and a shank portion extending from the other side.

As mentioned above, the pivot point between the plate and the elongated strip is not centrally located, but located, with respect to strip Ill, at a point approximately two-fifths the length of the strip from its inside end and similarly located, with respect to plate 20, along its edge zone. The purpose for this location of the pivot point is that it places each clip I8 at those points along the soles periphery which aiford to the cleat the greatest security in its attachment to said sole. As shown in Figure 1, the forward two clips attach themselves to the toe of the sole, while the rear two clips attach themselves to the widening portion of the arch as it joins the forward half sole, thus eliminating the possibility of longitudinal slippage of the cleat along the sole.

The pivotal engagement between the plate 20 and strip I0 is maintained by calk II, the shank of said calk forming the fulcrum for the pivotal action. The shank of calk I I passes through the two elements, and its shank is swaged or peened so as to bear on the back surface of strip III, while its base portion bears on the front surface of plate 20. Although not specifically illustrated, calk I I is identical to calks I2, illustrated in cross segction in Figure 4, showing the extending rivet I The means whereby the two elements of this anti-slipping device or cleat may be clamped in position with respect to each other is located at and is in part integral with calk 30. Calk 30 has a threaded shank portion, and this shank extends through the arcuate slot 40, through the strip I0, and engages a threaded nut 33. Essentially, in the operation of this clampin mechanism, calk 30 is screwed into the nut 33 thus bringing plate 29 and strip I0 into frictional engagement.

Figure 3 is a detailed cross section of the clamping mechanism. Nut 33 is attached to strip I0 and held in position by means of upturned serrations 34 which pass through suitable holes in strip I0 and are then bent over on the opposite side of the strip. Interiorly threaded shank of nut 33 extends through strip I0 and through the arcuate slot 40 in plate 20. No. 52 shows a swaged or peened over shoulder of shank 5i, which engages the edges of slot 40, thus serving to hold plate 20 and strip I 0 in permanent assembly, while shank 5| further serves to supply the means for sliding engagement, in slot 40, of plate 20 with strip I0 as occasioned by the pivotal movement of these two elements. Threaded shank 32 of calk 30 is screwed into the interiorly threaded shank of nut 33 with lock washer 3| inserted between the base plate 53 of calk 30 and plate 20. The tightening of the clamping mechanism is effected by means of applying a spanner wrench to holes 35 of calk 30.

Thus, with the clamping mechanism loosened, the cleat is fitted snugly to the sole of the shoe, each clip being brought into gripping engagement with the periphery of the sole at the proper point, and the clamping mechanism is tightened by turnin calk 30 by means of a spanner wrench, thus depriving the elements of their relative pivotal freedom. Once secured, this mechanism will not loosen in the normal use of the device. To remove the cleat from the shoe, calk 3D is turned by use of the spanner wrench again so as to loosen the clamping mechanism, thus restoring to each part its relative pivotal freedom and enabling the cleat to undergo a transverse expansion, thus removing it from the shoe,

The sole plate will be seen to approximate the shape of the half sole of a shoe. Primarily its shape is designed to provide a firm support for the shoe as well as for the cooperating elongated strip Ill and the clamping mechanism, the shape however being such as to permit for the proper positioning of the sole plate on the shoe in such a manner that all clips I8 firmly engage the edge of the sole and no part of the sole plate,

except for the clips, extends beyond the confines of the sole. The present sole plate with its pair of non-aligned clips has the advantage of providing clips where they are most effective.

The drawings and. the above specification d sclose one form of the invention. It will be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited thereby, and variations thereof embodying the principles of the present invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A detachable shoe cleat comprising a pair of elements: one a sole plate approximating a half sole in shape, the other an elongated strip; calks carried by said elements; said elements being swingably engaged, the strip having two sole engaging clips, the plate having one sole engaging clip near its toe and having a second clip on the opposite edge and near the rear edge, a slot.

in the sole plate, the strip having an opening coincident with said slot, and means passing through said slot and openin holding said elements in adjusted position, said means includin a calk.

2. A detachable shoe cleat comprising a pair of elements: one a sole plate approximating a half sole in shape, the other an elongated strip; calks carried by said elements; said elements being swingably engaged, the plate having a sole engaging clip on one side near its rear edge and on the other side near its toe portion, the strip having a sole engaging clip at each end, a slot in the sole plate described, said strip having an opening coincident with said slot, an interiorly threaded socket passing through said opening and said slot, and a calk having a threaded shank cooperating with said socket to hold the elements in adjusted position on the shoe.

3. A detachable shoe cleat comprising a pair of elements: one a sole plate, the other an elongated strip; said elements being pivotally engaged, the plate having two arms extending therefrom, each arm having at its outside end means for gripping the sole of the shoe, a slot in the sole plate, said strip having an opening coincident with said slot, an interiorly threaded socket passing through said opening and said slot, the socket having at one end an integral disc anchored to one of said elements and having at its other end a shoulder engaging the other element, and a calk having a threaded shank entering said socket and having an integral disc like enlargement for fixing the two elements in adjusted position.

4. A detachable shoe cleat comprising a pair of elements: one a sole plate approximating a half sole in shape, the other an elongated strip swingably mounted on the sole plate; calks carried by said plate; the plate and strip each having two sole engaging clips, a slot in the sole plate, said strip having an opening coincident with said slot, means passing through said slot and opening, said means serving to assemble said elements, and means coacting with the last named means to secure said elements firmly in adjusted position.

5. A detachable shoe cleat comprising a pair of elements: one a sole plate approximating a half sole in shape, the other an elongated strip swingably mounted on the sole plate; calks carried by said plate, the strip having two sole engaging clips, the plate having one sole engaging clip near its toe and having a second clip on the opposite edge and. near the rear edge, a slot in the sole plate, the strip having an opening coincident with said slot, and means passing through said slot and opening holding said elements in adjusted position, said means comprising one part serving to assemble said elements and another part coacting with the one part to secure said elements firmly in adjusted position.

6. A detachable shoe cleat comprising a pair of elements: one a sole plate approximating a half sole in shape, the other an elongated strip swingably mounted on the sole plate; calks carried by said plate; the plate having a sole engaging clip On one side near its rear edge and on the other side near its toe portion, the strip having a sole engaging clip at each end, a slot in the sole plate, said strip having an opening coincident with said strip; said elements being pivotally engaged, the

plate having two arms extending therefrom, each arm having at its outside end means for gripping the sole of the shoe, a slot in the sole plate, said strip having an opening coincident with said slot, an interiorly threaded socket passing through said opening and said slot, the socket having at one end an integral disc anchored to one of said elements and having at its other end a shoulder engaging the other element, and a calk having a threaded shank entering said socket and having an integral disc like enlargement for fixing the two elements in adjusted position,

MELVIN A. ROBINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,889,649 Forbes Nov. 29, 1932 2,171,692 Gibb Sept. 5, 1939 

